Mission

As part of the overall mission of Western Washington University and the College of Sciences and Technology, the mission of the Department of Physics and Astronomy is to:

• Provide a curriculum in Physics and Astronomy with the breadth and depth to facilitate and support effective learning in the core areas of the discipline at all levels;
• Provide a range of courses in Physics and Astronomy that enhance the education of students of the Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences;
• Provide the core curriculum in Physics for future Physics teachers and for science teachers in all disciplines;
• Provide courses at a variety of levels that serve the needs of other major programs within the College of Sciences and Technology;
• Provide students with opportunities to participate in original research, and encourage and support faculty research and the improvement of pedagogical methods;
• Provide an overall supportive and sustainable working and learning environment for students, faculty, and staff.

Learning Objectives

Specific broad learning objectives for the Physics and Astronomy program include ensuring:

• Student mastery of the principal core concepts of Physics;
• Student understanding of the nature of scientific inquiry, experimental design, and implementation;
• Student ability to communicate ideas effectively, both verbally and in written form;
• Student ability to work together effectively to solve shared problems;
• Student preparation for graduate study;
• Student preparation for employment in a range of education and technical fields.